Russian Dwarf Hamsters – Are They Right For You?
Russian Dwarf Hamsters are cute but do they make good pets? Before deciding you’ll need to know a bit about the different breeds. Here is a short presentation of the popular types available.
The Syrian Golden Hamster.
This is by far the most common hamster in pet shops and it is this type that most people associate with the name “Hamster”. This is one of the largest hamsters. Much larger than a russian dwarf hamster, theycan be up 6 ins in length (18 cm) and weigh up to 200 gms. It is a beautiful golden brown in color and its Latin name “mesocricetus auratus” means “medium sized golden hamster”. They have a very short tail.
Golden Hamsters are solitary animals in nature and so should be kept apart unless it’s a mother with babies. However as soon as they become mature they’ll start fighting and must be separated. Even though they can cuddle up and sleep together during the day at night they will fight and give each other nasty bite marks. So keep Golden Hamsters in separate cages.
Dwarf Hamsters
Russiand Dwarf Hamsters are becoming increasingly popular and here we find among others Campbells Hamsters, Winter White Dwarf Hamsters, and Roborovski’s Dwarf Hamsters. The well known Chinese Dwarf Hamsters are in fact from another breed and are a bit more like a rat in appearance.
A common feature for all types of Dwarf Hamsters including Russian Dwarf Hamsters are they are smaller than the Syrian Golden Hamster (about half its size).
Campbell’s Dwarf Hamsters.
This is the most common type of dwarf hamster. They are normally between 2 and 4 inches (up to 12cm). The male being larger than the female. They are a grey brown color with dark grey strips along the back and underneath a golden crème or light grey. A common problem in Campbell’s hamsters is diabetics. This is an inherited problem and unless an individual hamster’s parents are known to be free of diabetics, a Campbell’s dwarf should not be fed sweet foods (including fruit, corn, peas, carrots, yogurt drops, and some manufactured “hamster treats.”)
Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamsters.
These Russian Dwarf Hamsters are not quite so common as the Campbell’s Dwarf Hamster, but they are still found in many pet shops. The primery differnce between the Campbell’s Dwarf Hamster and the Wintern White Rusian Dwarf Hamster is the Winter White changes it’s color to a nearly pure white as the days become shorter. They make good pets and are not as aggressive as some breeds and you can have two hamsters together in the same cage.
Roborovski’s Dwarf Hamsters.
These are the smallest breed of Russian Dwarf Hamsters. While they are very cute looking with a small white patch over each eye they are not happy being handled and are more for looking at than cuddling. They come originally from Mongolia and are only 2 – 2½ inches (6-7 cm) in length but live longer than others (up to 3-4 years whereas the average for other hamsters is 2 years).
Chinese Dwarf Hamsters.
Although called Dwarf Hamsters the Chinese Dwarf Hamster is not related to the group “Russian Dwarf Hamsters”. These hamsters can grow to 2½ to 3 inches (7- 9 cm) in length and adults can weigh about 50 to75 grams. On average they live for two to three years. The Chinese Dwarf Hamster’s body is longish when compared with other hamster breeds plus they have a relatively long tail. The females make better pets than the males.
Coming soon: What Equipment Will You Need For Your Russian Dwarf Hamsters.
